The United Kingdom marked its highest temperature of the year on Thursday, hitting 38.1 degrees Celsius in west London, as confirmed by the national meteorological service, amidst a prolonged period of scorching weather across Europe. The Met Office announced that this temperature exceeded the previous 2026 peak of 38 degrees Celsius recorded in late June, although it fell short of the UK’s all-time August high of 38.5 degrees Celsius registered in 2003.
Similar to France, Britain is currently undergoing its fifth heatwave of the season, beginning back in May. The recent intense heat has led to a record number of four days in 2026 with temperatures soaring above 36 degrees Celsius and two days hitting 38 degrees Celsius, matching the count from 2022.
In France, temperatures have climbed even higher, nearing 41 degrees Celsius in various regions spanning from Aquitaine in the southwest to the Rhone River valley in the east, according to the country’s meteorological agency. The peak of the scorching heat is anticipated to shift eastward away from the UK and France on Friday, gradually easing over the weekend.
Both Britain and France have demonstrated their inadequacy in handling such extreme heat levels this summer. Notably, the scarcity of air conditioning outside commercial establishments and offices has posed challenges. In the UK, reports emerged of nurses collapsing due to heat exhaustion while working in hospitals situated in aging structures lacking sufficient cooling systems, as highlighted by the Royal College of Nursing.
The prevailing drought conditions across many parts of Europe, including Britain and France, have desiccated crops and depleted water resources, intensifying the strain on water supplies for households, agriculture, and the environment. Southern Water, responsible for water distribution in southern England, has applied for a rare drought order, seeking to prohibit non-essential water usage by businesses, such as car washing and filling non-domestic pools, citing a severe lack of rainfall jeopardizing water availability in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
As the land remains parched with no significant rainfall in sight, authorities in Britain and France remain vigilant against the threat of wildfires. In the UK, firefighters have been actively combating a wildfire in the New Forest region of southern England. England and Wales have already recorded 1,017 wildfires this year, matching last year’s record-breaking total, underscoring the necessity for the UK to adapt to changing climate patterns.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is contemplating a ban on disposable barbecues to mitigate the risk of further wildfires amid the persistent extreme heat in parts of the country. French firefighters are also on high alert, with some considering strike action to demand additional personnel and resources to cope with the escalating frequency of extreme weather incidents, exemplified by recent wildfires in various regions, including Bordeaux.
